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This morning your English-speaking driver/guide will meet you for another exciting day. You
will make your way first to the walled city of Lucca where you will rent bikes.
Bike riding is an ideal way to visit Lucca as the medieval centre is closed to all
motor vehicles.
In this medieval town artistic and historic monuments stand out such as: the Roman Amphitheatre, the Basilica of San Frediano, the Square and the Church of St. Michele, the Cathedral of St. Martino with the "Holy Face" and the Tomb of "Ilaria del Carretto" engraved by "Jacopo della Quercia", the Guinigi Tower, Fillungo Road, the Ducale Palace in Napoleon square, last evidences of the principality of Lucca.
At the Guingi Tower you will have a marvellous view of the landscape that
surrounds Lucca. As you continue your ride through the town you will notice a wine and
olive shop where you will be able to stop and take in some of the local
specialities. Of course you will not want to miss a visit or the oldest pastry
shop in Lucca where you can relax with a cappuccino and taste the speciality of the
town the cantuccini biscuits.
Your ride will continue to the the top of the fortified walls which surrounds Lucca. From the top of the walls you will see the town and also the surrounding areas. In the afternoon you will continue your excursion to a truffle factory where you will be delighted with a tasting of the precious products and some typical dishes as a light lunch. You will discover the small village of San Miniato, famous in Tuscany for it's truffles.
This evening you will meet with our Tuscan chef together with whom you will prepare a Tuscan meal. He will share with you his secrets that will wow your guests at your next dinner party!
Today you continue your Tuscan adventure with a morning of horseback riding in the countryside. Your English-speaking driver/guide will take you to Pontassieve, not far from Florence. Here you will meet with an English-speaking riding instructor who will assess your riding ability and plan an appropriate route. You will have a relaxing ride through the beautiful hills cultivated with wines and olive trees.
Your morning will end with a delicious country style Tuscan lunch before returning to Florence. Afternoon is free for you to enjoy Florence.
This morning you will be met at the hotel by your English-speaking guide who will take you to the
Uffizi Gallery for a tour.
The Palace, started by Giorgio Vasari in 1560 and completed by Buontalenti, was devised by Cosimo I de' Medici. The palace was intended as the new centre of the administrative State offices ("Uffizi"), for which Palazzo Vecchio had become too small. Francesco I, Cosimo's son, started the palace's conversion into a museum, and in 1581 closed the second floor Gallery with big windows and collected there a part of grand-ducal collections, composed of ancient statues, medals, jewellery, weapons, paintings and scientific instruments. The Medici family, as an untiring collector, constantly enriched the Gallery: amongst the most considerable bequests are those due to the patrimony left by Vittoria della Rovere (1631), Ferdinando II's wife, and to the acquisitions made by the Cardinal Leopoldo de' Medici (1617-1675), thanks to which it was possible to lay the foundations of the Gabinetto Disegni e Stampe ("Drawings and Printings Cabinet") and of the collection of Self-Portraits that nowadays can be admired along the Corridoio Vasariano, that connects the Uffizi Gallery to the royal Palazzo Pitti. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.
This evening you will be transferred to the town of Figline Valdarno just half an hour from Florence and the restaurant Torre Guelfa. The restaurant is situated in a restored 13th century building and has an expert cooking staff. The restaurant has a superb wine-cellar with more than 1500 different kinds of wines.
Tonight the staff will prepare for you an exclusive dinner featuring the best typical Tuscan dishes and wines! A fitting way to say arrivederci in Tuscany!
After check out from your hotel, our local representatives will pick you up for your private transfer to the airport to catch your departing flight.
For 2008 prices, please call one of our Tour Agents at the phone number below
(Prices may vary with different seasons, weekend, holiday or trade fair date surcharges)
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1 800 848 8163
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